Welcome to GRL Academy Gymnastics Education
About GRL Academy
Our Training Philosophy
At GRL Academy, we believe in providing top tier gymnastics coaching and mentorship to all gymnasts, regardless of location or gym choice. At the heart of everything we do is self image. We believe true strength starts from within, so we build from the inside out. Our program focuses on confidence building, mentorship, and skill development based on an educational approach. Our training programs are designed to help gymnasts build mental strength, provide them with a clear understanding of skill development and technique, as well as to develop a strong sense of self worth both in the gym, as well as in life. The more reflective you are, the more effective you are.
Our Founder
Welcome to the World of Gymnastics Dreams, I'm Gretchen Richter, the visionary behind GRL Academy, a platform I built to empower, mentor, and educate the next generation of girls through creativity, confidence, and character. I collectively bring 40 years of gymnastics to you, which allows me to fully understand your daily experiences as a gymnast, while also providing you insight through the eyes of a former NCAA Athlete and a Coach at the Top Programs in the country. I deliver this wealth of knowledge to you through an innovative approach of educating the athlete outside of the gym. With a degree in Fashion Merchandising, and a minor in Communications, my coaching philosophies have transformed hundreds of athletes over the years using a method based on developing positive self image through creative thinking. I believe the very thread that holds you together as a student athlete is woven by your own self value. My mission is deeply personal: to inspire girls to dream boldly, utilizing positive self talk, and lead lives that reflect their truest selves. GRL Academy is more than a brand- it's a movement- shaped by my belief that every girl has the power to design her own gymnastics & life story.
Our Athletes
- Our athletes are the heart and soul of GRL Academy. Every athlete brings a different story, a unique personality, and her own Dream. Elevating the athlete is THE MISSION. Sometimes gymnastics is not found in the numbers, it's found in the knowledge.
- This is no different than the coaching I have provided athletes with for 20 years- it is me taking the best parts of my coaching and hand delivering them to you, knowing it's what you need the most, and the one thing missing from our sport. Consider it "Bonus Coaching". GRL Academy methods deliver an understanding to it's athletes that are far beyond the norm of coaching. Attention to detail is what I train best, every move, every breath. We help each of them find their purpose and use that to fuel their passion.
- Every rep, every routine, every breakthrough, we are their backbone. We nurture character, which translates into confidence. Every need of the athlete is met, which can't always be done in a traditional gymnastics setting. There is a major difference in "throwing the skill" & "knowing the skill". This takes education. These young athletes know their worth, compare themselves only to who they were the day prior, and begin doing gymnastics from a place that can only be sparked by someone who has been through it before and focuses on the need of the athlete first.
- GRL Academy is the only gymnastics mindset program built from the heart of an Athlete and the mind of a Coach. This is more than a training platform. This is trust, transformation, and a trajectory into her future.
Glimpses of GRL Academy: Capturing the Essence of the Academy
Rooted in Greatness, Reimagined with Heart
Gretchen Richter’s foundation as a gymnast was built on the discipline, precision, and work ethic rooted in the system shaped by Béla Károlyi. At GRL Academy, she has taken the best of that legacy—strong fundamentals, fearless training, and a champion’s mindset—and redefined it with a modern, empowering, athlete-first approach designed for today’s generati
Gretchen Richter – WVU Gymnastics Record-Setter
- Balance Beam: 9.95 (WVU NCAA Regional Record, 2004)
- Vault: 9.925 (Career High)
- Floor Exercise: 9.925 (Career High)
- All-EAGL First Team – Balance Beam (2004)
- John Quackenbush Award for Perseverance & Passion (2004)
- Competed in all 12 meets (2004 season), consistently scoring 9.8+ across vault, beam, and floor
- Holds one of WVU’s top 3 all-time scores on balan
Gretchen Richter – Coach, Mentor, Champion Builder
Coaching at the most reputable gyms in the country, Gretchen is a transformative coach. Known for her expertise, passion, and creativity, Gretchen brings a wealth of experience and insight to the table.
Her coaching style blends technical precision with a motivational approach. She understands what it takes to nurture talent at every level—from begi